February 2025

Our hearts go out to the people who have lost so much in the devastating fires that have wreaked havoc on so many areas of our beautiful city as well as destroying one of our long-established theaters, Theatre Palisades. We hope Theatre Palisades can find a way to rebuild or relocate so it can once again create new productions.

COVID protocols continue to be dictated by each individual venue, so bring a face mask to wear during the show in case the venue requires it. It’s a good idea to check with the theater before attending a show to find out what is their current policy. 

   The information presented in this column is the latest available at the time of printing; however, it should be verified with the theater before making definite plans. 

Here are the shows that have announced opening dates for this month or are already running:

Opening

“The Brothers Abelson Since 1946” Twenty-six-year-old cartoonist Benny Abelson faces a life-changing decision when he visits his family in Texas for Thanksgiving 1977. At first his dad’s nervous breakdown and his mom’s decision to walk out on her husband of 35 years elicit Benny’s wit and the audience’s laughter. Benny prepares to hightail it back to NYC but as family secrets erupt the Abelsons open a window onto the staggering heartbreak of keeping secrets. 

Written by Dennis Danziger and directed by Matthew Leavitt, it runs through March 2 at the Electric Lodge in Venice. For tickets, visit www.abelsonplay.com.

“The Book of Mormon” follows two young missionaries who are sent to Uganda to try to convert citizens to the Mormon religion. One missionary, Elder Price, is an enthusiastic go-getter with a strong dedication to his faith while his partner, Elder Cunningham, is a socially awkward but well-meaning nerd whose tendency to embroider the truth soon lands him in trouble. Upon their arrival in Africa, Elders Price and Cunningham learn that in a society plagued by AIDS, poverty and violence, a successful mission may not be as easy as they expected. 

Written by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone, with music by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone, and directed by Jennifer Werner, it runs Feb. 6 through Feb. 9 at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks. For tickets, visitwww.BroadwayInThousandOaks.com.

“Noises Off” Doors slam, sardines fly and trousers drop in Michael Frayn’s side-splitting British farce about a theater company desperately trying to get their act together. Both onstage and backstage, chaos reigns for a troupe of floundering actors whose forgotten lines, misplaced props and steamy romantic entanglements make it nearly impossible for the show to go on. An uproarious love letter to the theater, “Noises Off” is a peek behind the curtain – where everything that can go wrong, does! 

Written by Michael Frayn and directed by Anna D. Shapiro, it runs Feb. 6 through March 2 at the Geffen Playhouse Gil Cates Theater in Los Angeles. For tickets, call (310) 208-2028 or visit www.geffenplayhouse.org.

“The Sphere of Fixed Stars in the Heavens” On a rooftop in North Hollywood, Owen and Elodie meet at a friend’s birthday party. Then they meet again. And again. And again. They get to know each other, learn about each other and maybe start to like each other. Again. And again. And again. For both, this one encounter challenges what they know about love, desire, hope and time. They discover that nothing lasts forever … except for the things that do. 

Written and directed by J. Holtham, it runs Feb. 13 through Feb. 23 at the Theatre 68 Arts Complex in North Hollywood. For tickets, visit www.bespokeplays.com.

“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Divorce” introduces three couples, all going through difficult divorces, as they anxiously and frustratingly wait in a room at a courthouse for an appointment with a mediator. Conversations begin, details of each of their troubled marriages are revealed and they eventually learn more about themselves and their relationships in just hours than they have in years of matrimony. 

Written by Jeff Gould and directed by Marc Antonio Pritchett, it runs Feb. 14 through Feb. 16 at the 905 Cole Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets, visit www.SkyPilotTheatre.com.

“Jersey Boys” Experience the meteoric rise of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – a journey through fame, fortune and the timeless music that defined a generation. With hits like “Sherry,” “Walk Like a Man” and so many more, this show is a perfect blend of nostalgia, heart and sheer entertainment! 

Written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio, and directed by TJ Dawson, it runs Feb. 14 through March 2 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. For tickets, call (562) 856-1999 or visitwww.musical.org.

“Master Class” Callas, in the play, commands the stage in a Juilliard masterclass where she offers cutting, humorous and deeply insightful critiques to her eager-to-please students. While guiding her pupils – each with their own hopes and flaws – Callas reflects on her triumphs and tragedies, from her metamorphosis as a star to her volatile relationship with Aristotle Onassis. Through sharp wit and raw vulnerability, Callas reveals the personal and professional sacrifices required to pursue greatness. Her impassioned teachings and poignant reflections remind us of the profound impact that art can have on individuals and society. 

Written by Terrence McNally and directed by Tim Dang, it runs Feb. 14 through March 9 at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in Sierra Madre. For tickets, call (626) 355-4318 or visitwww.theatrewest.org/tickets,.

“Watermarks (A Fugue)” Set inside the most famous gift card shop in the world, a manager competes with his one and only customer over what is and what is not. 

Written by Abbott Alexander and directed by Marco Rivera, it runs Feb. 14 through Feb. 23 at the Theatre West in Los Angeles. For tickets, visit www.theatrewest.org/tickets,.

“End of Times Therapy” The year is 2037. Food is scarce, war is imminent and the patriarchy dominates local tribes. A lone therapist sets up a practice in La Crescenta where she tries to help a young woman find a better life. But power and politics continue to dominate American life even in the post-apocalypse. It explores the themes of class wars, gender roles, romantic love and the therapeutic process in end-of-times Los Angeles and holds up a mirror to the times in which we now live. 

Written by Solange Castro and directed by Robert Yasamura, it runs Feb. 15 through Feb. 23 at the Santa Monica Playhouse in Santa Monica. For tickets, call (310) 394-9779 Ext. 2 or visit www.SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com/End-of-Times-Therapy.

“Macbeth” Set for this production against the haunting backdrop of New Orleans from the late 19th century through the 1920s, Macbeth may be the Bard’s most disturbing play: a macabre tale of witches, hallucinations, ambition, power and Shakespeare’s bloodiest couple. Macbeth and his wife thrash against the rise of their own consciences in a gripping psychological and political thriller that follows Macbeth’s transformation from a celebrated battlefield hero to a bloody tyrant, unveiling the profound darkness that resides within the human soul. 

Written by William Shakespeare and directed by Andi Chapman, it runs Feb. 15 through March 9 at the A Noise Within in Pasadena. For tickets, call (626) 356-3100 or visitwww.anoisewithin.org.

“Unconditional, A Musical Memoir” In the wake of one of life’s most profound challenges, Margot Rose’s “Unconditional, A Musical Memoir” forges a path to resilience with a commitment to go on in a world of unpredictability. This is a true story of dedication and loss, community and love, in which two women, already in their mid-40s, went to extraordinary lengths to have kids. After a tragic loss, the family would be thrown into a spiral that, once again, forced them to grapple with the question – how do we become (and stay) a family? How are we able to go on? 

Written by Margot Rose and directed by Anne Kenny, it runs Feb. 15 through March 9 at the Skylight Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets, call (213) 761-7061 or visit www.skylighttheatre.org.

“Alabaster” is a darkly comic southern drama by Audrey Cefaly about love, art and the power of women. The journey of a noted photographer lands her in the mysterious realm of an undiscovered folk artist hiding away in North Alabama in this funny and poignant new play. 

Written by Audrey Cefaly and directed by Casey Stangl, it runs Feb. 16 through March 30 at the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets, call (323) 663-1525 or visitwww.FountainTheatre.com.

“Desperate Measures” When the life of dangerously handsome Johnny Blood is on the line, he must put his fate into the hands of a colorful cast of characters. Laws are broken and hearts are won as they try to find justice in a world that often doesn’t seem just. 

Written by Peter Kellogg, with music by David Friedman, lyrics by Peter Kellogg, and directed by Todd Nielsen, it runs Feb. 21 through March 9 at the International City Theatre in Long Beach. For tickets, call (562) 436-4610 or visitwww.InternationalCityTheatre.org.

“Oklahoma!” Experience the passion, the rivalry and the hope that unfolds against the sweeping backdrop of Oklahoma Territory. In the bustling frontier town of Claremore, Oklahoma, a lively group of characters chase their dreams and grapple with the challenges of love and loss. Ado Annie, a captivating young woman, finds herself torn between the affections of Will Parker, a charming cowboy, and Alfred Dreyfus, a hardworking farmhand. Meanwhile, Curly, a handsome ranch hand, falls for Laurey Williams, a spirited farm girl who yearns for a life beyond the farm. As tensions rise between farmers and ranchers over dwindling resources, a rivalry erupts between Curly and Jud Fry, a brooding farmhand who harbors a dark secret. A community auction provides a platform for both love and conflict to unfold with Laurey offering a picnic basket as a prize to the winner of a competitive barn dance. Through a series of misunderstandings, jealousy and a dramatic storm, the true depths of love and friendship are revealed. Ultimately hearts mend, sacrifices are made and hope prevails in this timeless story of love conquering all. 

Written by Rodgers & Hammerstein, with music by Rodgers & Hammerstein, and directed by Tim Nelson, it runs Feb. 21 through March 9 at the Rose Center Theater in Westminster. For tickets, call (714) 793-1150 Ext. 1 or visitwww.rosecentertheater.com/oklahoma.

“The Trick” Two businessmen, Furst and Pin, meet a couple of call girls, Yvette and Babette, in a rundown saloon. Meanwhile, a man on the ledge of a building across the street threatens suicide, revealing and changing their lives in unexpected ways. 

Written by Joe Praml and directed by Linnea V. Praml, it runs Feb. 21 through Feb. 23 at the Theatre 68 Arts Complex in North Hollywood. For tickets, visitwww.theatre68.com/tickets,.

“44 The Obama Musical” is a satirical look at the rise and presidency of Barack Obama as well as the eccentric political characters he met along the way. Obama’s election changed history. And as we clearly see also ended racism forever! But “44” is the story of the Obama you won’t read in history books … because history books are now banned in most states. But also because “44” is the story of Obama as Joe Biden kinda sorta remembers it … as a musical! 

Written and directed by Eli Bauman, with music by Eli Bauman, it runs Feb. 27 through March 23 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. For tickets, visitwww.centertheatregroup.com.

“I Love You Because” Set in New York City, “I Love You Because” centers around a young, uptight greeting card writer whose life is changed when he meets a flighty photographer. Along with their eccentric friends and siblings, they learn to love each other – not in spite of their faults but because of them. 

Written by Ryan Cunningham, with music by Joshua Salzman, lyrics by Ryan Cunningham, and directed by Megan Ripchik, it runs Feb. 28 through March 16 at the Zephyr Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets, visit www.chrtheatre.com.

Continuing

“By the Way, Meet Vera Stark” takes an entertaining and revelatory look at racism in the film industry during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Inspired by the struggles of actresses like Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen, worlds collide when aspiring African American starlet Vera Stark, who works as a maid to Gloria Mitchell, an aging Caucasian star grasping at her fading career, lands a trailblazing role in an antebellum epic starring none other than her boss! The play examines Vera’s 70-year career and her place in Hollywood history. 

Written by Lynn Nottage and directed by Rondrell McCormick, it runs through Feb. 8 at the Westchester Playhouse in Los Angeles. For tickets, call (310) 645-5156 or visitwww.kentwoodplayers.org.

“Richard III” Having helped secure his brother King Edward IV taking the throne of England, the jealous tormented Richard, Duke of York, plots to seize power for himself. Masterfully deceiving and plotting against nearly everyone in the royal court, Richard orchestrates a bloody rise to power before finding all his gains jeopardized by those he betrayed. 

Written by William Shakespeare and directed by Richard J. Martinez, it runs through Feb. 8 at the Helen Borgers Theatre in Long Beach. For tickets, visitwww.LBShakespeare.org.

“Something You Don’t Know” As a family tries to enjoy a weekend away at their cabin, they face the truth of the shocking secrets they’ve been keeping. The play examines how a family navigates the challenges of moving forward with love after a lifetime of trauma. 

Written by Dani True and Kirsten Jones, and directed by Natasha Renae Potts, it runs through Feb. 15 at the Sawyer’s Playhouse at Loft Ensemble in North Hollywood. For tickets, call (818) 452-3153 or visit www.loftensemble.org.

“Listing” Raymond is a real estate agent with a passion for historic preservation. His dream listing arrives when the owner of one of Los Angeles’ architecturally significant homes asks him to represent her modernist masterpiece. Open houses bring bumbling buyers and development speculators. When catastrophe strikes and the terms of the sale are hijacked, Raymond’s well-intentioned hopes and plans are thrown into chaos. Even the house itself seems to have its own nefarious agenda. Tragedy, societal tension and ghosts of the home’s past all simmer to the surface, and the home’s good bones can’t hide the bad blood. 

Written by Russell Brown and directed by Tom Lazarus, it runs through Feb. 16 at the Theatre Forty in Beverly Hills. For tickets, call (310) 364-0535 or visitwww.theatre40.org.

Steve Zall, Publisher, Scene in LA 
Sid Fish, Co-Publisher & Editor, Scene in LA